Z3 Dash Trim

Hello i just bought a 1997 z3, Love the car for starters but there is some things i need to do. The Dask trim has seen better days. I dont really want to shell out 150-200$ on a kit because its all not bad. Is there any way i can repair it or just buy some of the kit. Any information is helpful

What is the damage? Where is the damage? Can you post a pic?

There isnt really dmg its just old and fadded. ill try to get a picture tomorrow when the sun is out. going to bed soon

If you are referring to the parts I think you are ( the area around the shifter and possibly the area around the stereo, climate controls, etc) they are removable. You can sand them with a light grain sand paper and paint them. You can also buy new ones BUT they will cost far more then a dash kit. I myself am getting ready to remove mine and paint them.

Originally Posted by E36ic4me

If you are referring to the parts I think you are ( the area around the shifter and possibly the area around the stereo, climate controls, etc) they are removable. You can sand them with a light grain sand paper and paint them. You can also buy new ones BUT they will cost far more then a dash kit. I myself am getting ready to remove mine and paint them.

When you do it will you take some pictures and make a post about it please. im taking a picture of mine in about 30 mins after LOST

The wood grain is just fading really bad. The worst part is the emergency flasher button.

Oh, now I get it! You're in luck! That is just a cheap stick-on dash kit. it will peel right off and you will have a nice looking OEM center console underneath. When I bought my 96' it had a similar kit installed. I removed it the second I got my car home.

Originally Posted by E36ic4me

Oh, now I get it! You're in luck! That is just a cheap stick-on dash kit. it will peel right off and you will have a nice looking OEM center console underneath. When I bought my 96' it had a similar kit installed. I removed it the second I got my car home.

Idk i dont really see a sticker on it i will check though. It looks like the OEM part.

That is 100% not an OEM panel. I know this because

A) The OEM Wood Dash covers the whole console (sides too)

B) The OEM Wood Console is a much darker wood

C) The OEM Wood does not cover the Hazard Button nor does it go around the Dash Vents.

D) The OEM version is all one piece, no separated

E) The OEM one would go all the way around the power window switches, not stop on one side.


I attached a picture of the OEM Wood Console for you. As you can see, yours isn't remotely close. I can absolutely guarantee you, yours is in no way an OEM part!!

Interesting ok well ill give it a shot and post back to you. thanks again

My Pleasure! Start at a corner and slowly start peeling it back. These kits get pretty brittle with age, most likely it will start cracking. Don't worry and just keep on going.

Originally Posted by E36ic4me

My Pleasure! Start at a corner and slowly start peeling it back. These kits get pretty brittle with age, most likely it will start cracking. Don't worry and just keep on going.

*Update* Ok i gave it a shot and sure enough it start to peel off. and sure enough it was BRITTLE and more like broke off. im not planning on doing it right now but i will soon. what i did notice is the glue was kinda staying on. Im thinking just some glue remover and scrub it.

Originally Posted by brianrparker

Im thinking just some glue remover and scrub it.

Absolutely! I used 'GooGone' and it worked beautifully. When I peeled mine off, it broke into a million pieces and left a tone of adhesive residue all over my console. After a bit of wiping / scrubbing with the GooGone it cleaned-up beautifully. Here's a couple of pictures of my car for you, one is how it looked when I bought it and the second is a picture of how it looked a couple of hours later, after I removed that awful looking thing.

Originally Posted by E36ic4me

Absolutely! I used 'GooGone' and it worked beautifully. When I peeled mine off, it broke into a million pieces and left a tone of adhesive residue all over my console. After a bit of wiping / scrubbing with the GooGone it cleaned-up beautifully. Here's a couple of pictures of my car for you, one is how it looked when I bought it and the second is a picture of how it looked a couple of hours later, after I removed that awful looking thing.

Looks good ill take a before and after and post it up here. lets just hope my after will look good.

I'm sure it will look great. You seem determined and it really isn't a difficult job. Can't wait to see your finished result, keep me posted!!

Originally Posted by E36ic4me

I'm sure it will look great. You seem determined and it really isn't a difficult job. Can't wait to see your finished result, keep me posted!!

Sure will, i got a 4Day weekend this weekend(Us army) gunna be doing a lot of different things on the bmw.

Excellent!! I have two BMW Convertibles and I was fiddling with both of them today. Tomorrow, I am going to start actually removing the console from my Z3 to custom paint it. I've been a little hesitant to do it but I finally go up the nerve!

well about half way done with the dash trim removal and wow my fingers HURT. i got like a blister going on my thumb. its looking pretty good though.

If you ringers hurt like crazy and you cringe at the thought of the word 'glue', you're doing great! I tore the whole console out of my car day before yesterday, painted the center section yesterday morning and just finished reinstalling it all. It looks pretty damn good!!!

gunna need a picture.

my 99 z3 has no lights on the air/heat controls as well as blower switch and temp conrtol.
Surely there should be some light on the three controls. The stero has been replaced by previous owner, so that may be why no light on the heat/air controls.
Can you confirm the Z3 has lights on these three controls before I tear into the console?
Thanks
Bob

Im pretty sure mine light up

Oh yes, they are all lighted. All three knobs should illuminate. You can access the back of the controls to replace the bulb with the stereo removed.

Use a hair drier (every soldier has one, right?) to heat and soften the trim parts. This will make things a bit easier.

Yeah i used my wife hair dryer. Lol idk i think single soldiers dont have one of them.